"This way monsieur." Christine panted sprinting up the stairs to box five.
"How does he know you." Nadir questioned looking down at the stage and the velvet seats below them.
"I met him before.." she paused.
"before his wicked mother sold him to some Persian king."
A lump formed in Nadir's through thinking of that day and the little girl playing that Eric watched.
"We have to hurry" she urged pressing the doors release button "It may be too late."
Christine lit a lamp that hung on a hook, "I don't know all of his trials he has a maze in the foundations going to each room."
Nadir felt nervous, Eric wasn't necessarily crazy or dangerous but he was smart and didn't like people invading his space.
"I should go in front of you," The man instructed pushing himself ahead of Christine, "No offence but I have seen his dark side much more than you have."
They walked through the maze, Nadir was surprised that hadn't set many traps.
Nadir looked up as they turned a corner, "stay still Christine." he whispered placing his foot on a week bord. a trapdoor opened shining the lamp down the hole Nadir searched for the bottom finding none.
"He built these?" she asked her voice shaking.
Nadir nodded.
"There he is!" Christine screamed with a mix of panic and relief.
"Christine." Nadir cried as she ran ahead of him to get to the limp form in the dark.
She collapsed to the ground beside Eric, without fear she unlatched the masquerade mask revealing his distorted face.
Nadir stood in shock this girl had no fear of him, ever the Shah was afraid of Eric's temper and face, enough so to drug him to keep him sane.
"Where is his home?" Nadir asked picking up the long thin limp form.
Christine looked around trying to find her sense of direction. "this way!" She exclaimed pointing down another path.
They reached the flat laying Eric on the day bed in the main room.
"Go heat some water, get rages and some sharp knives." Nadir directed slight nervousness in his voice.
Christine hesitated "GO!" he shouted causing her to jump.
Nadir tore off Eric's shirt revealing the hundreds of lumpy scars laid across his body.
The man felt sick knowing he had been the unofficial cause of his suffering.
"My God." Christine gasped nearly dropping the tray of supplies tracing each scar with her eyes.
"Hurry Christine, he is losing a lot of blood."
The Christine stroked his twisted face, "How do you find no fear in his face?" Nadir asked still in shock at the kindness of this girl.
"Why should I? He is a beautiful person, his face is not his fault." She murmured lovingly tracing her fingers across his missing nose and swollen lips.
Nadir smiled as he continued working on removing the bullet and patching up the hole in Eric's shoulder.
Once he finished Nadir stood up wiping the blood off his hands with a wet rag.
"I will be back, I have to get the baby."
Christine looked up her eyes sparkling "You have a baby?"
"Not really, can you stay here? If he wakes up give him this, it will ease the pain."
Christine nodded silently running her fingers through his dirty blond hair.
"Don't tell him about me, I don't know how he will respond." Christine gave him a questioning glance but nodded again.
Christine's eyes never left Eric looking for any sign that he would wake up soon.
His breath depend and his head moved ever so slightly. Slowly and painfully his eyes opened.
"Christine." Eric panted weakly as he looked around, "How did I get here?"
"Here drink this, it will ease the pain."
He drank the bitter tea, "This is Persian medicine how did you know how to make it?"
"That's for me to know, now rest."
Wincing in pain he shifted positions. "Yes madam." He smirked happy it was her by his side silently drifting off to sleep.
A noise came through one of the tunnels.
"Hello sir." Christine smiled standing up slowly.
"Has he woken up?"
"Yes but he is asleep again,
"No I'm not" Eric grumbled hissing in pain.
"So Daroga of what do I owe this pleasure." Eric asked sarcastically.
"Eric please."
"Are you wanting to carry me back to that hell hole? Let me go get my coat."
"Eric will you please listen to me?"
No Daroga! You stole everything from me! You took me from my home, then when things started going decent for me you threw me out, away from my home from her." Eric hissed bitterly groaning in agony as he stood up reaching for the bloody jacket mockingly.
Christine stood beside Eric in shock of what she heard who was the person they were talking about?
"What's that Nadir?" Eric asked looking at the bundle in the Persian's arms trying desperately to control his temper.
"Eric you should sit,"
Eric obeyed looking at the man confused.
"Rajja died Eric."
Eric glanced at the man his eyes growing fierce.
"Don't loose your temper on me, in front of Christine."
Eric's eyes calmed down Christine Could have sworn she saw a sparkle of a tear in his eyes.
"She died in labor."
"What!" Eric shouted.
The bundle started moving and crying.
Eric stood up and painfully walked towards the man, his body tense.
Slowly he lifted up a flap in the blanket, revealing a beautiful blue eyed baby.
Eric wiped a tear quickly from his eye, "Is she… Is she mine?"
Nadir nodded, "Rajja believed you would want her."
Eric backed up slowly, Nadir looked at Eric.
"Rajja said that you both needed each other."
"Congratulations Erik." Christine chimed in, both men gasped they had forgotten all about her.
Eric sat down giving a slight cry in pain, "I have business here I'll leave Rosa with you under the order that Christine watch to make sure she is properly taken care of."
with that Nadir lay the baby down next to Eric and left.
Christine squealed running over to Eric and the child's side.
"Don't hurt it." Eric cried smacking her hand away.
Christine laughed surprised at Eric's possessiveness. "Well you like little Rosa don't you?"
The baby opened her eyes and started laughing and making happy gurgling noises.
"Oh no she is unhappy!" Eric said jumping up seemingly terrified of the baby.
Christine laughed, "Oh boy Eric you have alot to learn if your going to be a father.
Ah he likes Rosa! I think he's going to be a cute daddy.